Utilizing the Metaverse for Serious Learning
Since the birth of the Virtual Worlds Education Consortium in January of 2021, educators have been joining forces to share their work, their passion for immersive learning, and goals to best utilize the metaverse for teaching and learning. This growth is documented through a growing body of research, programs like the VWEC Student Challenge, machinima videos of expert speakers and a directory of simulations, avatars and communities. Across the globe, educators are hearing about the potential for providing virtual learning experiences for students but without the rich resources we can provide by banning together, it is simply too difficult to navigate the vast worlds that are emerging. Come hear about a variety of ways to explore these worlds for best practices.
This session will share a panel of Metaverse Experts who have utilized immersive learning successfully and will include both the documented outcomes and the challenges we face as the metaverse evolves.
Speakers
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Valerie Hill / Valibrarian Gregg (Poster Booth #9)Dr. Valerie Hill is a library and information science educator with a research focus on the intersection of information literacy and global digital participatory culture. She has taught at all age levels, served as a school librarian, and is a National Writing Project trainer. She is a co-coordinator of the Virtual Worlds Education Consortium and Director of the Community Virtual Library.
https://valibrarian.net/
https://linktr.ee/Valibrarian
https://about.me/valibrarian
https://www.metaverselibraries.org/
https://communityvirtuallibrary.org/ -
Becky Adams / Elli Pinion (Poster booth #9)Becky Adams, PhD, served as the Director for Online Course Development at the University of New Mexico and is co-coordinator of the Virtual Worlds Education Consortium. She is passionate about best practices of using technology for learning and is an early adopter of teaching in the metaverse.
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Bruce Gross / Cooper Swizzle (Poster Booth #9)Bruce became drawn to 3D Virtual Immersive Environments for training after being introduced to them at a professional association meeting for trainers. Bruce realized they created opportunities for both synchronous and asynchronous trainings for learners, and offered a very cost-effective solution for companies utilizing them. He realized that 3D environments enabled better engagement for learners, and began implementing use of 3D Environments as replacements for PowerPoint slides in webinars (where he had attendees watch via the webinar screen as he explored the topics in the 3D world). And he was able to convince the company leadership to try a pilot program using 3D worlds for training as a substitute for the expensive face-to-face, week-long training marathons that had been a staple of the company leadership development.
After completing the highly successful pilot 3D leadership training series, he was able to continue and expand the 3D course offerings and subsequently ran a 5-year 3D-based training program before retiring from the company. Holding certifications in DDI®️, Forte®️, and 3D Virtual Worlds from the University of Washington (2012), Bruce brings a broad spectrum of experience in training and enjoys using and sharing knowledge gained from his 15+plus years of training experience.
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Shannon Broden / Kreatya ShannonMasters in Library and Information Systems Candidate, San Jose State University
M.A., Communications, California State University, FullertonShannon Broden is slated to graduate from the MLIS program at San Jose State University in December 2024, with studies focusing on emerging technology and digital content. In 2024, the California State Library Association presented her with the Technology New Leader Award. For the 2023-2024 school year, she served as the Web Coordinator for the San Jose State student chapter of the American Library Association, which received the ALA Student Chapter of the Year for its efforts. She is also a student member of the American College and Research Libraries Association, also known as ACRL (part of ALA).
In virtual worlds as Kreatya Shannon, Shannon Broden is a member of VCARA – a virtual worlds and VR common interest group founded in Second Life in 2009 by the School of Information at San Jose State University, now involved in a variety of virtual worlds and celebrates 15 years this year. She also serves as Directory Lead for the board of the Community Virtual Library, which maintains listings of educational communities in the Metaverse, as well as contact information for those willing to mentor others in the virtual space.
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Virginia Dickenson / Xenon Darrow (Poster Booth #15)Xenon Darrow has been in virtual worlds since 2006. She was originally in Second Life and an active participant in helping others learning virtual world skills, as well as bringing corporate learning into the virtual world and using it’s components to create learning in the real world. She has been an active denizen in OpenSim for about 3.5 years, currently residing at Wolf Territories. She has a personal learning project called Inspiring Learning Spaces in the Virtual World and another for teaching instructional systems design in an immersive environment. She is the founder of WolfTEC – Wolf Territories Educational Community, as well as the Wolf Territories ambassador for VWEC – Virtual Worlds Education Consortium. Xenon is a real life instruction designer at a major medical school, often using AI and virtual world media for content and design. She had a learning and development business for over 32 years, with the core of her clients being Fortune 50 companies. She has worked with & in higher education for over 13 years.
